Tranmission Filter Change problem?

Hey guys i was going to change my tranny filter is it supost to be bolted to anything? I just found 2 magnets 4 bolts and brass clip looking things ?? any ideas???? all of these were jsut sitting in my tranny pan including the old filter.


sorry for the bad pix quality this is my crappy camera.

thanks!

tranny(AW4) 1993

the magnets might be to pick up micro sized shavings. As for the rest... I think you need more than a fluid/filter change. :gonnablow:

I had the two magnets in mine, but the other two--that can't be good.

Yes the filter is supposed to be bolted to "something". The 2 magnets are supposed to be there to keep the metal shavings from clogging stuff, but since your filter has sat inside the pan, the magnets are the least of your worries. Looks like the guy you got it from did an amateur tranny service.

SimpleXJ

oh wow. who ever worked on the tranny last was A friggen idiot. I ptu on a new filter well finish it tommorrow il see how it goes...

The filter is bolted to the underside of the valve body with three bolts. One up the center and two on one end. Put a little blue thread locker on the threads of the filter retaining bolts.

The magnets in the pan are normal, should have metal slurry on them, means they were doing their job.

The two brass pieces look like either a thrust washer split on a shaft or a seat from the valve body has split. My guess is a thrust washer based on the little groove cut in it. If it was a seat then the hydraulics wouldn't operate correctly.

Does the trans shift OK? If so I would bolt the new filter in, slap on the pan, add fluid and then take it to a shop (not a tranny shop) either independent garage or dealership that has a Suntransmission flush machine. This machine gives your trans the equivelant of an ATF transfusion, flushes the cooler, valve body & torque convertor. Then happy motoring.
Good luck,
Tom

well did the filter change and it runs worse now...
its slipping when going from a stop to going. doesnt kick in right away any ideas? maybe time for a new tranny :-( maybe swap to a AX-15

Make sure you installed the filter right and put enough fluid in it. If the trans is indeed gone, I would just get another AW4. The install will be way easier and they ARE good transmissions, when not tampered with like yours was. Think about it... most trannies wouldn't make it long with their filters and hardware sitting in the pan. How long did you drive yours?

yea just drove it again damn its annoying. It goes into neutral alot!. when i come to a stop at a light or something and let of brake it will be in neutral and go to accelerate and it will jsut rev up then engauge harsly afew seconds of bieing in neutral. any ideaS what is causing this ?
I did what FSM recomended to add 2 quart to it. was this correct are you supost to add more than 2 quarts after a filter change?

Umm.... all you added after you changed the filter and drained the pan was 2 quarts???? There's your problem. I've done quite a few filter changes and all mine took more than 2 quarts. With the jeep running at normal temp, pull the trans stick and wipe it clean. Then reinsert it into the pan and see what its reading. Keep adding fluid until you're in the safe zone. That's the only way to do it.

oh.. around how much did your Aw4 take. I attempted to take some readings from tranny dipstick but they always come out wierd. il get it warmed again tommorrow and try it again.

IIRC about 4 quarts. You did drain the pan, right? The dipstick is a bit hard to read, especially with new fluid, what you're supposed to do is keep wiping it, and keep taking readings. BTW, a tranny low on fluid will have the exact problems you describe - crappy shifts, slipping ,etc.

Service fill for the AW4 is only four quarts - even if all you do is pull the drain plug and refill.

There should be only three bolts thru the filter, so the fourth is worrisome. IIRC, the filter bolts are the same size as the short bolts holding the valve body halves together, so there's a major seal that isn't happening. Valve body leaks cause loss of transmission control (even with the electronics, the internal control of any automatic transmission are hydraulic, and no valve body action means no holding gears.) Only park (a mechanical lock) and neutral will work consistently.

The brass-coloured job IS a thrust washer. I don't know which one offhand (there are about five in there,) but it's going missing will also cause trouble. I'd guess it was down there due to material failure - probably a casting void or an unplanned seamline in the casting.

I also concur with replacing the unit with another AW4. It can be rebuilt (I think a master kit with seals, gaskets, and friction will go for about $300,) and it is a relatively simple box to service. If you are anywhere near San Jose, CA I can help you, or Beezil in Chicago, who has been thru a few of these as well.

Apart from failures like this (probably caused by pilot error,) the AW4 is a rock solid slushbox, and is well worth keeping. I put 220K on my 87 before I lost the box, and that was due to losing three bellhousing bolts and an inch of daylight in the middle of the fourth. Even with all the abuse I heaped on it, when I tore it apart for failure analysis the only problem was the first planetary set being cocked in the case from the misalignment of the axes of the crankshaft and the input shaft. The clutches were still nearly new, even after some major towing jobs and a boatload of city and cross-country driving. I rate it better for daily use than anything save the HD Alison boxes and the like.

If you aren't near San Jose or Chicagoland, post a request for help on the OEM tech board and see if anyone near you has been thru an AW4. You don't need a lot of specialised tools, and those you do need can be made with a little creativity and effort (I made the bridge pullers and a device to pull the large snaprings from scrap stock on hand and some threaded rod, probably for less than what a single "special tool" would have cost to buy...)

5-90

hey im in socal. actually all 4 bolts went into the filter. thier were 4 holes in which bolts went into the filter to hold it in place. I cleaned all of the pan aswell it was quite of crap in bottom of pan. yea iv heard AT's are pita to work on . what about finding a low miles Aw4? or would a rebuild be a beter option? Il try adding the correct amount of fluid tommorrow and see whats up.

thanks for all the help by the way its very apreciated. :thumbup:

See if you can get a hold of Ed A. Stevens. He's in your area, and would be able to either help you directly or point you in the right direction...

5-90

Well added some more fluid and its back to normal isnt that puzzling?? doesnt do that nuetral thing anymore and shifts are good aswell.

Good to hear!

SimpleXJ